About Me
Neaco Fox (she/they) is a Taiwanese-American producer, creator, and educator. Neaco's experience ranges from live event management and producing, scenic and installation art fabrication, sound designing and live mixing, technical direction, rigging, performance art, improv, and dance. Their academic research has focused on uplifting early-career designers and technicians, especially those who lack access to these spaces and other resources, by examining mentorship programs and developing accessible art programming.
Neaco has contributed to productions with Disney Theatrical Group, The Moth, California Shakespeare Theater, Arizona Broadway Theatre, Southwest Shakespeare Company, Childsplay Theatre Company, the Desert Botanical Garden in Arizona, and Oh My Ears New Music Festival (OME). In 2020, they were a Diversity in Arts Leadership (DIAL) National Fellow with Americans for the Arts. They have also worked in museums as an accessibility coordinator, art installer, and performer for the Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh, PA.
Currently, Neaco is living in Taipei, Taiwan. They are pursuing a Master's degree in Arts and Creative Industries and studying Mandarin. They freelance as a production and stage manager, technician and fabricator, designer, and creative partner.
In their free time, Neaco enjoys biking around the city, yoga, and dragon boat paddling.
Mission Statement:
I want to create everlasting change in the arts and culture sector by increasing diversity, creating equitable and courageous spaces, and participating in the educational growth of early-career professionals as a mentor within the community.
As an artist, I thrive in a collaborative setting and value "process over product". Having studied Theatre (Design and Production) in a process-focused undergraduate program, I appreciate being challenged with new ideas, growing my understanding of various creative processes, and learning about new materials, fabrication methods, and technologies. Currently, I am exploring themes of migration, identity, and homemaking through installation art and writing.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
A Study of the Lack of Diversity within the Design and Technical Field of Theatre (2020)
Overview: The objective of the study is to examine the factors of a successful diversity program that breaks down barriers contributing to the lack of diversity within the design and technical field of theatre in the United States. I selected four companies in various regions of the United States: the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in the West, Steppenwolf Theatre in the Midwest, Actors Theatre of Louisville in the South, and Baltimore Center Stage in the Northeast. I interviewed the organizations about their fellowship, apprenticeship, and/or internship program(s) to understand why they are successful and how they contribute to diversifying the design and technical field of theatre. The findings of the study provided a list of best practices used in establishing a design and production program that can contribute to diversifying the industry.
United States Institute for Theatre Technology's (USITT) Gateway Focus Group Report (2022)
Overview: I co-created and co-facilitated a cohort of Gateway mentee and mentor alumni to collaboratively discuss the theatre industry and the Gateway program. The goal of the Gateway Focus Group was to analyze Gateway’s programming and mentorship, the impacts of COVID on the industry, discuss building sustainable models for future program participants, and allow open discussion for other topics where it seemed fit. The report outlines what was discussed, the outcomes, and goals moving forward.
